Its only been recently released on DVD here in Australia.Prior to this only available on VHS video. A very good friend of mine personally knows the guy who owns the red Ford Falcon GTHO used in the movie....not the the car they mocked up which crashed,caught fire and then had its roof ripped off. It helps if you were of age or close to it when the film was made so you can relate to the whole car culture thing here back then. Seems a bit corny now but always enjoyable to watch. Note...worth going into slow mode close the end after "Fox" loses to the 1957 blown black Chev and and its interesting how this scene was staged and which car didn't blow up when it didn't hit the wall but a substitute car parked away from the wall and blown up..... God i love DVD.
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alloyv81 December 2004
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I'm guessing that we all, no matter if we are fans of cars, luv the sound of a Dodge Challenger as it growls along the road, the noise a 57 Chevy make as it screams with ecstasy when it tears round a corner and, most of all, the blast of sound as a classic vehicle bursts into flames as it explodes. I'm not the biggest car enthusiast by any stretch of the imagination, but any of the above really does rev my engine! There's no denying the importance of transport on cinema. It has even been said that the invention of the train was one of the biggest influences on early cinema (looking out a window almost like a moving picture and the idea of being transported to a different time/space). But the car remains the most popular and most luved, it's even got its own genre: the carsploitation genre. A genre that focuses purely on the beauty of cars. In effect, it's just porn! Car porn! And I'm not talking about that rather nasty documentary on Channel 4 in which men actually had sexual intercourse with cars. Whatever floats your...car, I guess. Moving on... whilst RUNNING ON EMPTY isn't quite as pornographic as VANISHING POINT (Richard C. Sarafian, 1971) for instance, with its close ups of the car in motion, all it's bumps and curves (!), this doesn't mean that the car isn't the main focus of this film. In fact, the cars themselves become characters (more on that later). They're objectified and fetishised as much as the women, in fact, maybe even more. And holy holy, are these cars something! Every car in this film (besides the ones in the background) are simply beautiful – works of art, there's no question about it.
As I was saying, these incredible cars are, in a way, given characters themselves. You actually start sympathising with the car! SPOILER – Most notably during the scene in which the car is being wrecked and burnt SPOILER OVER. This has become almost a convention of the carsploitation genre; the evil 1978 Plymouth Fury from CHRISTINE (John Carpenter, 1983), Satan's custom Lincoln Mark III in THE CAR (Elliot Silverstein, 1977), the nifty little Mini Coopers from THE Italian JOB (Peter Collinson, 1969) to the friendly Volkswagen Beetle in THE LOVE BUG (Robert Stevenson, 1968) and of course each car from DEATH RACE 2000 (Paul Bartel, 1975) and even WACKY RACES (1968-1970) all of which had their own character. Ironically however, this emphasis on the car often over takes (!) the human characters! And this is certainly the case with RUNNING ON EMPTY, in which only one human character (the blind character who drives his car with his hearing rather than sight) has any sort of dimension, the rest are very much stock characters. These are all your stereotypical Australian 1980s teenagers; big hair, annoying accents and none of whom would look out of place in NEIGHBOURS, especially the Kylie Minouge look-a-like. But who gives a damn? It's all about the cars racing and crashing! That's it! If you don't like that you really are watching the wrong genre.
The car scenes are certainly the selling point of this film, and the best thing it's got going for it. They are fast; very fast! And we're not talking about the rather annoying technique some films seem to use where they record the car 'speeding' at around 40mph, and then speed it up. Oooh no! Not with this film you don't. These cars are zooming along at top speeds in real time – no fancy editing tricks here. So, we've got speed. Check. What about crashes? Check, check, check! Whilst there isn't cars crashing EVERYWHERE a la the incredibly BLUES BROTHERS (John Landis, 1980) , when cars do crash in this film, they certainly crash! It would seem that they use gunpowder or something similar to build the cars as one little hit and KABOOM they're up in flames. It kind of reminded me of THRILLER: A CRUEL PICTURE (Bo Arne Vibenius, 1974) in that sense.
Between these simply awesome scenes (especially the very start and the very end) there are quite a few scenes which slow everything done and, in my opinion, fail to add very much to the film. Note: more exploding cars needed! However there are a couple of exceptions here which are great scenes – SPOILER especially the attempted rape scene.
So, all in all, this is a man's film! A boy's film! Full of cars vroom vroom vrooming around the outback and a couple of tits thrown in for good measure too. I'd recommend this little film to anyone even if they are keen cyclists (!) – it's a great film which you can just switch your brain off, sit back in your leather chair and put on full volume! I'll give it 3.5 luvs out of 5 luvs – Bruuuuum! P.S – Amazon are selling this for just over £2 – it's a real bargain although the DVD lacks any special features whatsoever. -
Glen_Chapman27 December 2009Whenever this film gets a mention, usually the discussion begins and ends with the wonderful collection of cars and drag scenes, often overlooked are the at times eclectic characters that populate the film around the three central characters
One character that stands out is Rebel played by the great veteran Australian actor Max Cullen. Rebel is a blind drag racer, who nearly runs down the hero and his group in the middle of the night because he is not using any headlights.
In the back story we discover that Rebel master builder of street racing cars, and he and his wife seem locked in a time warp of the 1950's. Rebel goes on to play a small but pivotal role in teaching Mike, played by Terry Serio, the almost spiritual truth about street drag racing. It is not speed, reaction times that make a great racer. It is the one who feels the car best who will become the greatest
This is best exemplified as Rebel explains to Mike after a test drive "You got all the agony, just missing the style"
Graham Bond, is another well credited actor lending his talents as a crooked police officer looking to get in on some of the financial action being generated by the street racing. The confrontation between Bond and Fox played by Richard Moir adds tension to the story. Bond not only expects results but also Fox to drum up racing business
For most of the movie Fox displays a real manipulative and evil side, yet in the climax he presents a sense of honor that turns the final few minutes into an extremely tense and memorable ending. It is almost as if the film is refocusing on its true intention, to show us the culture of street racing rather than the day to day activities of people
One of the major complaints about the film is the script. Although it is nothing exciting, I believe the complete lack of any chemistry between Mikes girlfriend played by Deborah Conway and his mechanic played by Vangelis Mourikis has more to do with the problem. Any scene in which these two interact simply should have been cut
Lastly in terms of the actors, one truly standout performance is delivered by Kristoffer Greaves, who plays a deaf and crippled member of Fox's inner circle. His back story is never explored, was he injured in a race, born that way, what is it that Fox sees value in to keep him around
The reality of the film is simple, it is about street racing, and the culture behind it. When the cars are flying and action sequences are in motion it is the only time Director John Clark and his writer Barry Tomblin seem really comfortable with what they are doing.
So if you are looking for an in depth exploration of human relationships, moments of life defining drama, then this film is not for you. If your pulse races at the thought of a blown 57 Chev or the iconic GTO Phase 3 blazing away on the streets of Sydney, then you wont find much better than this film -
m3ch25 April 2003This is a great,but not widely known movie here in the states. It has some excellent cars,especially the blown 57 chevy.
Times when Nitrous was not widely known and just becoming popular.
some pretty decent racing,but a little corny. This movie is know here in the states as "Fastlane Fever" also!
enjoy! -
Rrrobert7 December 2019Enjoyable fun focused on Australian petrolheads racing their hotted up cars.
There are some great cars seen, several well shot race sequences, many spectacular driving stunts, and some beautifully shot scenery. The widescreen format is well used.
Of interest is the 1980s New Wave fashion and hairstyles. That part was really cool.
The script is OK but pretty thin and a bit clunky. Terry Serio in the lead is pretty good. Vangelis Mourikis (Tony) gives a good performance... and has some cool costumes. Deborah Conway looks great and has screen presence but her acting isn't the best. Maybe they should have had her sing a couple of songs instead of talking?
Plenty of very recognisable Australian actors appear in support roles so it is fun spotting them. -
Here's a movie that lives cool, and may'be that was never the intention. As just having watched it again, it brings me back to 82, and it's scene and culture back then. What I refer to as the good old days. Most of the film seems to be in Sydney if I'm not mistaken. Simply the stories about a young good looking guy, Mike, who needs to do something for himself, and be good at something. His want happens to be outrunning the local racing junkie thug, Fox (Moir) kind of a little old for the part, but great in the role, where cool rebel and defiant Mike played by (Serio) is only average, even if a little under par, where they're are moments when his acting grabs you, by not many. His expressions and that are limited, almost void. Standout performances are of course, a blind old rocker/racing nut, Reggie, played by veteran (Cullen) who steals the film like he does with many others. He's a character full of wisdom and inspiration, who helps Mike revamp and old car with the works. No sooner does this car become totaled. The love interest, Jules, (Deborah Convoy) is quite good, where we see her bare in a couple of scenes. The shiner she took from being run into the fridge, was a bit exaggerated. One visually tense scene, when first viewing it back in 84, I couldn't believe, was Mike's car set aflames, in an ambush, where him, Jules and his Greek mate, escape, frantically driving the burning and speeding wreck, into a lake. Graham Bond, the real movie stealer, sadly only has a couple of scenes, as a bad guy cop, a real cowboy, reveling in his part. He wants Fox's action, Fox wincing, like a real wuzz, under his control. The charismatic Gerry Sont, as Mike's younger neighbour, Victor creates a spirited and enthused, take note performance, his inspirational role model, just happening to be Mike. Awesome haunting soundtrack. With some real funny moments, this enthusiastic Ozzie popcorn pic, is an oldie, with cult status, car freaks will like or the young crowd. But time passes quick in this pic. Be warned.
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BandSAboutMovies25 August 2022Also known as Running On Empty, this Australian film is all about two steelworkers named Mike (Terry Serio, who was in the band The Elks) and Tony (John Agius) who dream of racing and the Ford Falcon GT-HO Phase III they drive and keep in one piece.
Fox (Richard Moir) is a street racer with his own gang and a problem: no one wants to race him after the last challenge ended up with his opponent dead by car-assisted rage suicide. But Fox is smart; he knows that he can get Mike to race by telling him he can have his girl Julie (Deborah Conway, singer for the band Do Re Mi) and maybe even his Dodge Challenger if he wins.
Director John Clark came up with the idea for this movie and even wrote its songs. He didn't make anything else until 1992's Kideo. Scriptwriter Barry Tomblin helped him get the story on screen.
Somehow, this Ozploitation film combines a new wave look with the 50s racing movies of the past - I do so love a good car gang - and it's a lot of fun. Here's to Cannon for bringing it to America. -
gnrlee3 May 2004This is one of my all time favourite movies, if ur not into cars then forget it!! This movie features 1 of Aussies greatest muscle cars, the XYGTHO. Yeah so the acting not the greatest - it was never made to win an oscar. The car action will keep you comin back for more and more. There is a cool collection of muscle cars from the 70's and an Awesome '57 Chev - with a real cool cat drivin it! Also there is a really cool song sung by Terry Serio the main actor. The acting is pretty funny when taken lightly, but the tyre smokin and drag racing is the main focus in this movie. Big fast cars with pleantly of steel(NO PLASTIC CARS), and some cool street dragging. I recommend it only to people that are into cars and not someone looking for great acting.
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Slutswool2 May 2007For those of you out there who have seen this pic on VHS, I would recommend the DVD. In fact the VHS is utter rubbish. The main reason is that the film was shot widescreen (2.55:1) and the producers ran out of money making the VHS version and released it as 4:3. The result is that several actors are not on screen at all, and in many drag races, less than half the cars are showing since one is on each side of the screen. The DVD is actually a reasonable version of the film.
A lot of the best scenes in the film were cut before the final release. They were viewed as being too offensive to minority groups. In fact the prospect of a US release caused even more cuts in the film. For example, the Americans reputedly did not understand words such as Petrol & Strides.
Mike's dad and mum were meant to be hippies. The dad survives in the film as a wasted dope smoking guitarist. But the following scene with the mum was cut. The scene took place in the roof space of the house which was lined with aluminium foil, fluoro lights and filled with plants... you get the picture. The producers had rounded up a lot of real plants for the foreground and when they saw the result on the big sheet, they freaked and the scene was cut. Cowards!
Yes, the film is noted as an Australian cult classic. Voted #2 in Street machines best 100 films of all time, narrowly missing out to Mad Max ll. The latter had over 10 times the budget of ROE. In fact the budget on ROE was so small that the director could not afford to wreck any of the cars... even though there would have been a public outcry if anyone had wrecked a real HO. (compare that with Smoky and the Bandit or Blues Bros where dozens of cars were wrecked.)
So there's one real GTHO and two fakes. One of the fakes was bought from the local indigenous community in Cobar after the standby GTHO crashed into the back of the Country Boy's truck. (That was unscripted! The car was meant to burst out from the side of the truck.) Because the budget was so tight, the car was made up with ordinary brown masking tape instead of the painted on gold trim of the real thing.
The 55 chev is absolutely real. The car began as a very plain 4 door and was brilliantly and quickly converted to the blown '55 in the film. The motor was a marinised 545 which made around 1000 bhp. This was reduced to around 600 for the filming. The car was able to easily to 170 mph as show in several scenes in the film.
Just for the record, anyone with $12,000 could have picked up ALL the cars after the film. The HO, the Dodge, the '53 Ute, Rammer's 53 Chev... the lot. Wonder where they are now?
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dodge-1413 September 2004This film has a cult following among the modified car community here in Oz. It may not be the best acting or story line but that is all part of the appeal. Even Rocky Horror Picture Show was a HUGE flop when first released, even MADMAX had to use a different name in the states, The Road Warrior. Sure it's got tacky lines in funny voices from Max Cullen, "green, green is nice" i'm sure would be said once somewhere in Australia every Saturday night by a "pervert car freak deviate"
Once you've seen it you will never forget:
"Whats ya name?"
"Piss off!"
"Piss off? What type of a name is that?"
"Its polish. Pissov's a Polish name!"
"OK sheryl, getcha gear off"
"not now Ram, ya so slow"
"a polak and a spag! what are ya trying to do? lower housing prices!"
mike - "she still snatches in second"
tony - "yeah, i know"
mike - "she winds up ok, but,,, i'm just loosing too much on the changes"
tony - "yeah , you would do"
mike - "yeah,,, so waddaya reckon?"
tony - "she still snatches in second"
mike - "yeah that just could be it!!!" -
I remember watching this movie many years ago on VHS at a friends place. At first I thought it would be a boring car movie. But much to my surprise it ended up being one of the best movies I can remember watching for its time.
It has a good story line and best of all it has some awesome Aussie cars and street racing. I really loved Fox's car the most which was a worked Dodge Charger. The paint work which was done on this car was truly outstanding in my opinion :)!
There's also a black two door blown 57 Chev which comes into the movie later on.
I actually managed to get a copy of this movie on VHS last year at K-Mart over here in Australia. I did have plans of converting this movie to DVD myself as I believe it is a movie worth the conversion. But much to my surprise this weekend while I was browsing the DVD movie bin I came across it on DVD. So of course I grabbed it while I could as it was the only copy there.
Anyway if you really want to see some classic street racing with real muscle cars, including a great story line without a rice burner in sight. Then this movie is for you!!!!
Here is some additional info taken from the back of the DVD.
He'll Win At Any Cost Fox is a young man that lives in the fast lane. He believes he is the fastest man on the road - but street racing is illegal. If he doesn't accept his latest challenge he could loose his girl... if he does accept, he could lose his life. Living dangerously, living fast and winning at any cost is their obsession. They don't turn back, the don't give in.. and the don't ask for help. -
The red capsicum13 October 2000All time Australian classic car movie. Acting is pretty average and script could use some work BUT the car chases and drag racing scenes are worth it. This has a huge cult following in Australia. Highly recommended for Rev-heads.
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Woodyanders13 July 2007If Monte Hellman's legendary early 70's road movie masterpiece "Two-Lane Blacktop" had been done more like a stark, stripped-down, fiercely taut and straightforward brooding mood piece embellished upon by that distinctly mean'n'lean, rough'n'tough, very raw and ragged macho Australian mentality and topped off with a generous sprinkling of dour, despairing, no-hope-whatsoever end-of-the-road punk nihilism, it would undoubtedly be much similar to this jarringly bleak and atmospheric knockout.
Nice guy factory worker Mike (an appealingly scruffy Terry Serio) runs afoul of sneering, shades-wearing fascist car race champ Fox (a perfectly hateful Richard Moir) when he steals Fox's fetching model girlfriend Julie (the lovely Deborah Conway) away from him. Mike and Fox begin competing in increasingly lethal races in which the stakes become higher and higher with each successive bout, finally culminating in an especially pulse-pounding all-or-nothing race with only one true winner allowed. Mike, assisted by his worried, but loyal Italian mechanic pal Tony (a splendidly smooth turn by Vangelis Mourikis) and tutored by blind, supremely hip 50's-style greaser rebel (marvelously essayed with maximum coolness by Max Cullen), willingly puts his life on the line for the sake of his reputation, the affection of his old lady, the money, and, most importantly, for the chance to topple the haughty Fox from his gloating, glowering thrown. Directed with utmost gravity and intensity by John Clark, written to laconically right-on perfection by Barry Tomblim, with a shivery, flesh-crawling synthesizer score by Peter Crosbie and spare, unadorned cinematography by David Gribble, this authentically gnarly early 80's item presents the concept of racing cars as not only a funky alternate lifestyle, but also an all-consuming obsession and reason for living (it's the sole thing most of the film's characters are really passionate about) with a remarkably astute and unblinking eye. Complete with a harrowing downbeat ending and unsparingly grim central message about the bitter price one pays for being top dog, this riveting depiction of a dead-end existence rates as an extraordinary cinematic achievement. -
mattevanspenguin6 March 2006The movie has started, the wheels spin, your car has entered a race against the Fox.... You're behind you can't get in front, you figure, "if i go out, i'm taking you with me..." You smash into the cars parked on the side of the road, you turn to hit Fox but your aim is bad.... Bang, you've gone up the back of a VW, and smash you've landed in a reservoir. Your car lights on fire. You could get out if you wanted, but the shame of losing has taken you... BANG! Your car blows up, everyone looks on in despair, some crying... The sound of a siren tells you the cops are coming. Everyone gets in their cars and bolts, leaving you to burn. The charred remains of the cars frame sits there, haunting the on lookers... You're dead.
This is one of the scenes; actually its the first scene in the movie. There are many more like it. As you enter the cockpit of the Fox in his pimped out V8 ford, Terry Serio in his crazy GTHO, and many others in this blast from the past.... JOHN CLARKS masterpiece, "RUNNING ON EMPTY" "-He'll win at any cost-" -
damianphelps4 January 2021The stars of the film are the cars!!
The movie is basic, alpha male vs upstart challenger, girl and so on.
What makes this movie a classic is the cars and the racing. No cgi, real cars, real damage and real fun.
This is simply about racing and territory, there is no underlying crime story etc or anything else to get in the way.
The only thing that would make the movie any better is a 4k HDR remastering to make the cars look even more stunning :)
Car fans NEED to watch this. -
jackliveshere16 July 2004This is a top car flick (Its a work of art/ YER a work of art!) all classic cars no plastic fantastic, I have watched it over & over again I have worn out two video tapes, And will wear out lots more. Lots more car lovers young or old will love this film & watch it more than 1 time! so hire it or buy it (just see it) I wish they would make more (car) movies like this V8 power not gassed up little whipper snippers!!!!
(shes a 351 right?)(motor magic) (the heap the chariot)
(you've got to learn to feel the power) -
eduardoalive27 July 2002I love australia, but this movie was so ordinary it was almost funny. Bad acting,(especially the wog dude that tries so hard to be funny), bad directing (it looks like it was filmed with a camcorder) and the ending is ridiculous....this movie sucks.
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timlennon-3211415 November 2018What a great classic. Is there anyone on here who could point me in the right direction to purchase this on VHS? Only versions I have found that are not under the title Fast Lane Fever are Australian tapes that won't work in a North American VCR :( is this even possible??